Moving to Maine and all it entails is not a light-hearted decision.
You are going to a state in the uppermost eastern corner of the nation where you are closer to Greenland than to California.
That is far away for a lot of folks!
Before you commit to making Maine your next home, take a peek at the pros and cons of living in the Pine Tree State.
Contents
Pros of Living in Maine
1. Affordable Housing and Low Cost of Living
As a result of the northernmost position with only one bordering state, which is also a one-of-a-kind Maine thing, housing is cheap.
Maine is the number one safest state in the US and has the lowest amount of violent crime.
2. Portland, Bangor, and Augusta, ME
Need inspiration for what Maine is on the best day ever?
Visit Portland, not to be confused with Portland, OR, and Bangor, where Stephen King lived for decades and wrote horrific tales.
Augusta, ME should not be confused with Augusta, GA, where the Masters of golf is held annually, either.
At the same time, these associations bring new life and energy to these commonly named Maine cities.
And if you have a thing with associations, you could live in all of the Portlands or Augustas around the nation in your lifetime!
3. Scenic Coastal Drives
Whether it is the leaf-peeping season or late spring when blueberry bushes are in bloom, you are going to be surrounded by bountiful nature in Maine.
It is a state where tourism takes full advantage of the scenery by offering plenty of mountain passes and hiking trails.
Get outdoors and explore nature in Maine, where this is the real entertainment.
4. Lumberjacks Live in Maine
A lumberjack is someone who works in the woods or on forestry service jobs, chopping logs all day long.
Sawing and hacking, that is the way of these workers.
A lumberjack also builds muscle tone and happens to wear flannel, and maybe a beard.
At the very least, you are going to enjoy seeing real-life lumberjacks stalking around town.
Fresh out of the woods, still with the scent of freshly honed lumber, these individuals are quite appealing.
5. Lighthouses
Some people collect lighthouses, and others use this for a bathroom decor motif.
Whatever the thrill that lighthouses bring to your life, if you love lighthouses, then you will find Maine to be quite pleasant.
More than 60 lighthouses are in Maine with names like Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and Nubble Lighthouse.
6. Ocean Kayaking
A popular sport in Maine is ocean kayaking, which is cold on the best of days and always rocky.
You might see a shark or school of dolphins as you brave the Atlantic.
Love the water?
Then you will love Maine and ocean kayaking!
7. Beaches
There are several beaches in Maine that give visitors and locals alike somewhere hip and cool to hang out on a hot day.
Bring your woolen bikini to Long Sands Beach, Goose Rocks Beach, or Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg.
8. The Northern Lights aka Aurora Borealis
Yes, the Northern Lights otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis are visible in Maine.
This is not always, but on occasion, the light show of this natural phenomenon is available and can be seen.
The best seasons are in the spring and autumn for viewing these lights.
Cons of Living in Maine
1. On the Cusp of the Country
If you want to live on a peninsula in the US, you are stuck in Florida or Maine.
Puget Sound is something similar to a peninsula, and that is where Seattle is, but in terms of northern states, Maine is mostly a peninsula.
This is cool and creates a unique living environment.
However, you are also out on the edge of the nation.
It can feel disjointing to say the least, especially if you come from, let’s say, Kansas.
2. Cold Temperatures All Winter Long
As you are living nearly in Canada and the Arctic Circle, expect cold weather and lots, lots, lots of snow during Maine winters.
The snowfall starts each season in October and continues until Maine sees 50 to 70 inches of snow on the coast.
If you live inland, expect even more of the white stuff, with 60 to 110 inches of snowfall each year.
This is on par with Alaska, by the way, but not as heavy as Vermont gets.
Either way, you want to avoid Maine if you plan to stay warm in the winter months.
Because that is hard to come by in ME!
3. Stephen King No Longer Lives in His Bangor Mansion
For 37 years, Stephen King resided in Bangor behind what is now a large black metal gate covered in bats and gargoyles.
The house is a Victorian-style mansion and was converted into a writers’ retreat for historical documentation.
By the way, he actually owns two houses behind that wrought iron artwork.
Interesting, but now you will not get to see him walking his dog(s) anymore if you live in Maine.
4. Black Flies and Deer Ticks
Maine is in the woods, so that means you can see more woodland creatures.
Like bugs that bite, including pesky swarms of black flies and deadly deer ticks.
If you have pets, prepare to use plenty of tick protection to keep these critters at bay.
5. Moose in the Roads
Have you ever hit a deer?
Not fun, at all.
But if you hit a moose, you will not likely be here to read the internet at all.
Moose in Maine make for horrible late-night roadblocks.
Be prepared to see and maybe be served moose steak if you move to ME.
6. Small Population That’s Compact
Maine is geographically small, but there are actually more people in this state compared to many much larger Midwestern states.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Maine reported a population of 1.341 million people in 2020.
Comparable, the state of Maine is seven times smaller than Texas.
This means you are going to be bumping shoulders and working alongside the same people in Maine most of the time.
7. You Cannot Use Bullets as Currency
This sounds weird, but it is one of those strange laws that are only found in certain states, and this happens to be the law in Maine.
Bullets as currency sound strange, but I imagine the metal is worth something, and for those Mainers who need a bullet, the value is really real.
8. York Witch Grave
There is a rumor in Maine about a witch who once lived here and has since been buried in a very nice way.
A witch is buried in Maine, in the town of York, to be exact.
The tombstone of Mary Nasson is in the Old Burying Yard of York and dates to 1774.
To be fair, the tombstone is very intricately carved to look like a very majestic woman with an updo and possibly some cleavage.
I am not sure why people see this as a witchy grave, but there is a historical sign on the funeral site and everything.
Again, that carved rock of the tombstone is very striking.
If you are concerned with witchcraft or feel attuned to the spirit of witches, and not in a good way, then you might want to be cautious about moving to York, ME at the very least.
Pros and Cons of Living in Maine – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Maine | Cons of Living in Maine |
|---|---|
| 1.Affordable Housing and Low Cost of Living | 1.On the Cusp of the Country |
| 2. Portland, Bangor, and Augusta, ME | 2. Cold Temperatures All Winter Long |
| 3. Scenic Coastal Drives | 3. Stephen King No Longer Lives in His Bangor Mansion |
| 4. Lumberjacks Live in Maine | 4. Black Flies and Deer Ticks |
| 5. Lighthouses | 5. Moose in the Roads |
| 6. Ocean Kayaking | 6. Small Population That’s Compact |
| 7. Beaches | 7. You Cannot Use Bullets as Currency |
| 8. The Northern Lights aka Aurora Borealis | 8. York Witch Grave |
Maine Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Maine Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What fruits are popular in Maine since it’s so far up north?
The biggest crop of fruit coming from Maine is blueberries.
In fact, the state produces an overwhelming majority of the nation’s blueberries as 99 percent of all domestic and wild-cultivated US blueberries are grown here.
So, the next time you eat a blueberry, especially if it is a wild blueberry, and it comes from the US, it most likely was produced in Maine.
What is the leading seafood export I can get to eat cheaply while in Maine?
You will be very excited to know that 90 percent of lobster eaten in the nation comes out of Maine.
If you love lobster, the king crustacean of the sea, you will get your fill here.
Is there really a desert in Maine?
Yes, the Desert of Maine is more than 20 acres and features glacial sand dunes along with coastal forests.
While not a traditional sand dune in the heat of summer where, like the Sahara or Death Valley, you could really die from heat exhaustion on your way to an oasis.
Instead, the Desert of Maine is mainly a way to say you have, impressively, been to a desert in Maine.
Can I buy alcohol in Maine on any day of the week?
Yes, you can buy beer and hard liquor on any day of the week, including Sunday.
However, the Maine alcohol laws restrict the time frame for buying alcohol.
This includes prohibiting alcohol sales between 1 am and 9 am on Sunday, and no sales are allowed from 1 am to 6 am Monday to Friday during the week.
That means you want to be proactive when deciding you need or want to drink alcohol rather than waiting until the bars and nightclubs close for the evening.
What are some really strange laws in Maine?
Well, you cannot feed deer, and you are banned from gambling at the airport even if you are waiting to pick someone up.
Also, advertising is prohibited in cemeteries and on graves and tombstones, and you cannot park in front of a Dunkin’ Donuts establishment.
Fun and interesting article. But note Maine is not a peninsula, see how there is only water on one side? You can live in Michigan if you want to live on a peninsula, there are two there. Or Florida like you said.
Google Schoodic Peninsula, it’s in Maine.
How is the humidity level? Serious question
It’s awful in July and August.
I’m moving to Maine from Texas (not the only place I lived) and I know it’s going to be a big difference but this article was very helpful and got me more excited to be going there. Thank you!
Try to find an apartment in Portland Maine a one bedroom is probably minimum 1200 a month. That is probably two paychecks you would need to save to pay for that and that 1200 doesn’t include anything.
Maine is actually ranks sixth most expensive state to live in for cost of living. As a Mainer, this is true. It’s extremely expensive to live here.
And the taxes are overbearing. I am also contemplating a move to Maine from crowded and expensive Denver, CO where crime has exploded and develops spread every which way it can. There are pros to living here – especially for taxes. However, for me, there’s way too many people, and it is the 7th fastest growing state in the US.
I was born and raised in Portland Maine back in the early 60’s. Went to public schools in Portland and Cape Elizabeth in the 70’s. Lived in Winterport which is near Bangor and visited family and friends in Buxton, Saco and Old Orchard Beach very often in the 80’s 90’s and 2000,s. Nothing is the same anymore as I visit my home state. Cultures are even different now. I have been living in Florida for 12 years now and I am going to move back home for the simple reason that there are 23 million people living here compared to 2 million in Maine I sure miss the cold weather and big moose standing in the middle of the road. You don’t realize how much you miss something or someone until you go back home
I vacationed there in Bangor area and Aside from the beautiful scenery and low crime rates Maine sucks!! Why would anyone wanna live there?